Lake County Ohio GenWeb

Bertha R. Barden

As published in the Alumni Record, Painesville High School, Painesville, Ohio
Compiled and Published by the Painesville High School Alumni Association in 1925

Transcribed by Linda Jeffery, November 2004.

Bertha R. Barden, ’01

Those of the Alumni who attended high school at sometime during the years 1884-1890 will recall the work of the principal, Mr. John P. Barden and those alumni who had the privilege of knowing the class of 1901 will recall the name of Bertha R. Barden, daughter of Mr. J.R. Barden. All will be glad to learn of her success in her chosen realm of work.

Upon the completion of her high school course Miss Barden enrolled as a student in Vassar College. She graduated with honors in 1905 and was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa, the honorary fraternity. The following year she took post-graduate work in Latin and Greek at her Alma Mater receiving the A.M. degree.

The next year, instead of turning to teaching, as she had planned, she entered the Library School of Western Reserve University. After completing the year’s course, she returned to the Library School as an Assistant and Revisor, later becoming an Instructor.

In 1913, seeking for experience in actual library work, Miss Barden became a cataloger in the St. Paul (Minn.) Public Library. From January to June, 1914, she was Assistant Librarian in the North Dakota Agricultural College at Fargo, N.D. She returned to St. Paul as General Assistant and Instructor of the Training Class continuing in this position for two years. During this period she was Instructor in Cataloging and Classification in the Summer Library School of the University of Minnesota.

Returning to her home in Cleveland, she joined the staff of the Cleveland Public Library and became in 1917, Supervisor of Inventory, Records and the Apprentice Class, also later, First Assistant in the Catalogue Department.

In September, 1923, Miss Barden went to Berea College, Berea, Kentucky, as an assistant librarian. During the past summer she has been Director of the first summer session of the Library School of Western Reserve University, returning in September to her regular duties at Berea College.

At present she is head of Berea College library, where she is interested in the education of the Kentucky mountain children. She has charge of traveling libraries sent from the college to the little mountain towns.